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U.S. State bans abortions

Washington: Activists on either side of the abortion divide that is the great faultline of American politics were gearing up for an epic confrontation after South Dakota passed the most sweeping ban on terminations in more than 30 years. The law, which would ban nearly all abortions, was signed into law on Monday by a Republican Governor, Mike Rounds, who embraced the ban with the intention of provoking a direct challenge to legalised abortion across the country. In a mid-term election year, his decision sets the stage for a showdown next November, with supporters of reproductive rights saying on Tuesday that they would campaign to put a referendum on abortion rights on the South Dakota ballot, a move that would turn the state into a cause for liberals and women's organisations. He and other abortion opponents argue that the time is ripe for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade, the 1973 decision that granted a woman's right to abortion. ``The reversal of a Supreme Court opinion is possible,'' Mr. Rounds said. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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